The Insurance Journal recently reported on a Southern trend – a trend that is not too flattering for our medical professionals. The article showcases a color coded depiction of the United States where you can see how many prescription drugs are being prescribed per 100 people in that state. The Southern states, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi, maintain a shade of purple – signifying the prescription rate between 82-143 prescriptions per 100 people.
Florida, a state that used to fall victim to a large number of drug overdoses, reversed its trend and passed legislation that caused a 23 percent decrease in prescription drug related deaths statewide.
One glance at the chart details how prevalent prescription drug abuse is in the United States and especially in the South. As seen by state specific research reported in this article, it may be time to call out to the legislature to hold our medical professionals and our doctors’ offices accountable. States that have seen results after passing legislation include Florida, New York, and Tennessee, to name a few. [Read more…]